Burial apparatus



(No Model.)

' 3 sheets-sheet 1. C. L. MUORE 8v C. V. PUGH.

BURIAL APPARATUS. y No. 605,555. Patented June 14, 1898.

m: N onms Perils cu. Paoauruo.. wAsNmarou. n. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

VC.L.-1\100RE & G. v. PUGH. BURIAL APPARATUS.

No. 605,555 Patented June 14, 1898.

. il a? I @www 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

vc. L. MOORE 55o. v. PUGH. BURIAL APPARATUS'.-

N5. 505,555. Patented June 14, 1898.'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

CHRLESL.- MOORE AND CORTEZ V. PUGH, OF BOW'LINGGREEN, MISSOURI.

BURIAL APPARATUS.`l

SPECIFICTION forming part of Letters Patent o. 605,555, dated J une 14, 1898.

` Application filed May 18, A1897. Serial No. 637,065. (No model.)

To all whom tjncty concern;

Be it Vlmowlrthat We, CHARLES; L. MOORE. and CoRTEZfV: PUGH, citizens of the United;

States, residing at Bowling. Green," in the county of Pike and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Burial Apparatus, of which the followingis a'specification.

This invention relates to mechanical appliances to facilitate the lowering of a coffin or casket into a grave and` which Will receive l the coffin at one end of the grave thereby obvzo viating the inconvenience, annoyance, and danger attendant upon placing the coffin upon apparatus located directly over the grave. The appliance bearing the load is moved upon a track fromV the end of the grave to a position directly thereoverand the coffin is lowered at a regulated speed.

'The object of the invention i-s the provision of an apparatus for the purpose aforesaid which Will be o light, neat, comprise a few operating parts Veasily handled, and which is open, so that access can be had to and every part be at all times under observation.

Other objects and advantages are contem- Vfeatures and details of construction, which hereinafter will be more fully illustrated, described, and claimed.; f

In the accompanyingdrawings is illustrated an embodiment of thej invention, although slight changes in the detailsand arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 represents the apparatus in position to receive the cofn. Fig. 2'is a view similar to Fig. 1 on a larger scale, showing the relative position of the apparatus-after the coffin has been placed thereon and the said apparatus moved to a position directly above the grave, the outer end portion of the track being broken away. Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 2, showing the coffin partially lowered. Fig.A 4 is a perspective 'view of the apparatus viewedfrom a different point. Fig. 5 is a detailview of the actuating'mechanism;v Fig. 6jis'a to lan ,operative relation. 4to show more clearly the end braces.

out of gear. Fig. 7 is a view of the actuating mechanism from the inner side, showing it in Fig. 8 is a detailed view 1 Referring to thedrawings, in which similar shape, and is composed of tubular side and endbars, which are jointed at their angles by means ofL-couplings, such as are commonly employed for connecting Water and :gas pipes 'where-,they extend'relatively at right angles.

This frame is mounted upon grooved wheels 2, which are journaled in the lower ends of inverted-U-shaped hangers 3, the latter straddling the side bars 4 of the frame and attached thereto by bolts 5. There will be four supporting-wheels 2, and they will bel-located near the four corners of the frame, one near each end of the side bars. Longitudinal shafts 6 extend parallel with the side bars 4 and are journaled in thev upper ends of a series of knees 7, which are mounted upon the'side bars 4 and are held thereon in the adjusted position by means of bindingscrews S. By loosening the binding-screws 8 the knees 7 can be adjusted so as to bring the longitudinal shafts 6 in closer relation or movethemfartherapart,asdesired. Sprocketpinions 9 are mounted upon the adjacent ends of the shafts Y6 and are of like size, so as to secure a uniform movement of the said shafts when the apparatus is in operation.

The actuating mechanism for the longitudinal shafts is located at one end of the frame and is mounted upon a sleeve 10, secured upon the end bar ll in any desired manner, preferably by means of a binding-screw 12. Parallel Wings 13 extend vertically from the sleeve 10, and a shaft 14 is journaled in one end of the said wings and is provided at its outer end with a gear-wheel 15 and at its inner end with a pinion 16, and this gear-wheel is provided on the inner side with a peripherally-grooved ring 17, which receives azstrap 18, by means of which the descent-,of thecoffin is controlled in the.man n'er presently to be explained. One end of the strap 18 issecured to the sleeve 10, and after passing nearly around the ring 17 the said strap has IOO its opposite end attached to a lever 1f), which has pivotal connection at its lower end with the end bar 1l, and by pressing outwardly and downwardly upon the lever 10 the said strap 1S will be caused to grip the ring 17 more or less tightly and control the lowering of the coffin, as will be readily understood. A hub portion 2O is formed on the inner side of the pinion 1G and has spurs 21 projecting outwardly therefrom, which are engaged by the bent end of a pivoted pawl 22, so as to lock the mechanism in the required position. The pawl 22 is pivoted to a side of one of the wings 13 and is operated by hand when it is required to release or hold the actuating mechanism in check. A pinion 23, similar to the pinion 1G, is in mesh with the latter and is mounted upon a journal 2-1, extending parallel with the shaft 1i, and a sprocket-pinion 25 is formed on the outer side ofthe pinion 23 or is caused to revolve therewith in any manner, so thatthe pinion 23 andthe sprocket 25 will revolve together as a unitary part. A sprocketpinion 2G of corresponding size to the sprocket-pinion 25 is formed on or secuied to the outer side of the pinion 16 and revolves therewith, and the sprocket-pinions Q5 and 2G have a like number of teeth, so as to impart a similar movement to the longitudinal shafts 6. Sprocket-chains 27 and 28 connect the respective sproeket1'iinions 25 and 2G with the respective sprocket-pinions f) on the ends of the shafts G. A shaft .39 is mounted in the opposite end of the wings 13 to that carrying the shaft 14c in such a manner as to have a limited longitudinal movement and is provided at its outer end with a crank SO and a pinion 31, the latter meshing with the gear-wheel 15, so as to rotate the latter when it is required to impart a positive movement to the longitudinal shafts t3 for the purpose of winding the tapes oi straps 32 upon the spools 33, mounted upon the said longitudinal shafts. This shaft 29 is ca-pable of longitudinal movement to admit of the pinion S1 being moved into or out of gear with the gear-wheel 15, according as itis required to connect the shafts G with or disconnect them from the actuating mechanism.

The spools 33 are mounted upon the shafts 6 and are capable of adjustment thereon to admit of their separating or coming closer together, according to the length of the coffin to be lowered into the grave, and these spools are prevented from turningindependently on the shafts by a feather-and-spline connection, the longitudinal rib filentering a corresponding groove or notch in the bore of the spool cooperating thererewitli. rlhe straps or tapes 32 have their end portions wound in reverse directions upon corresponding spools 33, so that the said ends will be paid out or nnwound from the spools at the same rate of speed, thereby lowering the coffin and maintaining it in a horizontal position.

The portable track is composed of two sections SG and 237, which are removably connected together, so as to admit of the length of the track being reduced to a proper size for convenient handling when required for use. Each section of the track is composed of longitudinal sills surmounted by rails upon which the grooved wheels 2 travel and which guide the apparatus in its movements. One of the sections is located immediatelyv above and eiicireles the newly-made grave, and the opposite section formsa continuation thereof and projects at one end of the grave a sufficient distance to receive and support the apparatus, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1. If desired, one or both sections of the track can be suitably propped to bring the parts into an approximately, horizontal position. Obviously where the ground is perfectlylcvel the track will be placed thereupon without rcquiring any propping; but where the ground is hilly or uneven a propping and bracing of the track will be necessary to the successful operation of the appliance.

After a grave has been prepared the track is adjusted about in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and the apparatus is placed upon that portion of the track located at one end of the grave, care being taken to have the end portions of the straps or tapes wound upon the corresponding and cooperating spools, so that the middle portion of said straps o1' tapes will be taut and occupy a horizontal plane. The pawl 22 is brought into engagement with one of the spurs 21, so as to lock the actuating mechanism and hold the straps in position to receive and support the coffin, which latter is placed in position upon the straps by the pall-bearers walking upon either side of the outer end portion of the track. After the coffin has been deposited upon the apparatus the latter is moved upon the track to a position directly above the grave, and when it is required to lower the coffin the pawl 22 is disengaged from the spurs 21 and the crank is moved outward, so as to disengage the pinion 3l from the gear-wheel 15, and the lever 15) is manipulated to permit the weightof the coffin and contents to draw the straps 32 from the spools 33, when the said coffin will descend into the grave, the rapidity of the descent being controlled by pressing upon the lever 19, so as to cause the strap 1S to bind upon or grip the ring 17 more or less tightly. After the coffin has reached the bottom of the grave the straps are disengaged therefrom in the usual manner, either by disconnecting one end from one of the spools 33 and dra-wing upon the opposite end of the strap or by loosening the straps and slipping them from beneath the ends of the coffin, as commonly practiced. After the straps have been disengaged from the coffin in either of the ways mentioned or in any other desired and convenient manner the end portions of the said straps are wound upon their respective spools by bringing the pinion 31 into mesh with the gear-wlieel 15 and by rotating the crank 30, as will be readily understood.

IOO

IIO

relation after the parts have been properly:

adjusted. These braces are composed of parts which are adjustably connected. together to admit of the relative adjustment of the longitudinal shafts when it is required to secure the proper tension upon the sprocket-chains 27 and 28. It will be understood that the braces 39 are connected with the frame and the longitudinal shaftsin such a manner as to admit of the adjustment of the longitudinal shafts in the manner set forth.

The present invention obviates the neces- .sity of the pall-bearers walking along the edges of the grave and facilitates the placing of the coffin upon the lowering apparatus and makes provision for the proper deposition of upon the side bars 4, so as to attain the desired end, the binding-screws 8 allowing for the loosening of the knees and for the tightening of Ithe same after being'properly adjusted. y v v It will be understood that the track may be provided in as many sections as required, and inthe event ofthe ground being uneven the spaces or depressions between elevated points will be provided with blocks or a suitable trestle-work forsupporting the track extending thereover. The wheels or rolling supports 2 may bein the form of ordinary castersso that they may turn to adapt themselves to any curvature in the track, thereby obviating binding.

Various changes in the form, proportion,

and thefminor details of construction may be resortedv to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new is- 1. In a burial apparatus, the combination of a frame comprisinglongitudinal bars to come upon opposite sides of the grave, knees having bearings at both ends and mounted ing the knees in'an adjusted position vupon the frame-bars, longitudinal shafts parallel with each other and with the side frame'- bars, mounted in the bearings at the free yor outer ends of the knees,`and actuating mechanism applied to the frame for. simultaneously turning the shafts at equal speed, substantially in the manner set forth.

2. In a burial apparatus, the combination of a rectangular frame, knees mounted to turn and slide upon side bars of the frame, means for securing the knees in an adjusted position, `parallel shafts mounted in bearings at the free ends of the knees, spools adjustable on said shafts and caused to revolve therewith at any adj usted position by a feather and spline connection, actuating mechanism for positively rotating the shafts in reverse directions at/an equal rate of speed, a detent and a brake device applied -to the having their end portions secured to and wound in reverse directions upon corresponding or transversely-aiming spools, substantially as setforth for the purpose described.

3. In a burial apparatus, the combination of longitudinally-disposed shafts, straps or `tapes having their end A'portions reversely wound upon the said shafts, intermeshing -pinions having sprocket-pinions revolving therewith, sprocketchains for connecting the sprocket pinions with corresponding sprocket-pinions on the ends of the longitu-` dinal shafts, a detent mechanism applied to one of the pinions for holding the mechanism in check, and actuating mechanism for positively operating the said pinions, substantially as and for the purpose-set forth.

4,. In a burial apparatus, the combination of a frame, longitudinal shafts journaled upon the frame, straps or tapes having their end portions' reversely wound upon the shafts, a sleeve secured upon a frame-bar and having extensions, a shaft journaled in the extensions and provided with a gearwheelfand a pinion, thelatter having a hub portion formed with spurs, a pawl for engaging with the spurs, a ring on the side of the gear-wheel, a strap engaging with the ring, a lever having the strap connected therewith, a second pinion meshing with the first-mentioned pinion, sprocket pinions revolving with the aforesaid pinions and connected by means of sprocket-chains with sprocket-pinions on the said longitudinal shafts, and a crank having a pinion operatively connected therewith and adapted to be thrown in and out of mesh with the said gear-wheel, substantially as set forth for the purpose described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.-

CHARLES L. MOORE; CORTEZ V. PUGH. Witnesses: WM. O. GRAY,

A. E. GENTERY.

lactuating mechanism, and straps or tapes IIO izo 

